Coaxial screw gear sleeve mechanism

Abstract

An improved mechanism for expanding or lifting a device in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention is a coaxial screw gear sleeve mechanism. In various embodiments, coaxial screw gear sleeve mechanisms includes a post with a threaded exterior surface and a corresponding sleeve configured to surround the post, the corresponding sleeve having a threaded interior surface configured to interface with the threaded exterior surface of the post and a geared exterior surface. A drive mechanism can be configured to interface with the geared exterior surface of the sleeve, causing a device utilizing such a mechanism to expand or lift between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method comprising:
 placing a lifting device in a retracted state in which a first member of the lifting device is adjacent a second member of the lifting device; and 
 rotating a first sleeve rotatably coupled to the first member, which, in turn, non-rotatably translates a first post extending from the second member, thereby transitioning the lifting device to an expanded state in which the first and second members are spaced apart. 
 
     
     
       2. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein rotating the first sleeve includes axially translating the first sleeve relative to the first member simultaneously with the first post translating relative to the first sleeve. 
     
     
       3. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein rotating the first sleeve includes the first sleeve surrounding the first post. 
     
     
       4. The method according to  claim 3 , wherein rotating the first sleeve includes the first post having a threaded exterior surface threadably engaging a threaded interior surface of the first sleeve. 
     
     
       5. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein rotating the first sleeve includes the first sleeve having a helically geared exterior surface. 
     
     
       6. The method according to  claim 5 , wherein rotating the first sleeve includes actuating a drive mechanism having a surface configured to interface with the helically geared exterior surface of the first sleeve. 
     
     
       7. The method according to  claim 5 , wherein rotating the first sleeve includes rotating a worm drive having a threaded section operatively engaging the helically geared exterior surface of the first sleeve. 
     
     
       8. The method according to  claim 7 , wherein rotating the first sleeve includes the worm drive rotatably disposed in the first member, the first member having a unitary body. 
     
     
       9. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein placing the lifting device in the retracted state includes the lifting device having the first and second members having lengths greater than a height of the lifting device when the lifting device in the retracted state. 
     
     
       10. A method comprising:
 positioning a lifting device including first and second members and a size-adjustable support configured to transition the first and second members between retracted and expanded states, the second member having first and second posts; and 
 actuating a drive mechanism configured to interface with first and second sleeves of the size-adjustable support, the first and second sleeves operatively engaging the first member such that actuation of the drive mechanism telescopically expands the size-adjustable support with respect to the first member, which axially translates the first and second sleeves relative to the first member while the first and second posts translate relative to the respective first and second sleeves. 
 
     
     
       11. The method according to  claim 10 , wherein positioning the lifting device includes the second member having at least one post of the first or second posts being non-rotatable. 
     
     
       12. The method according to  claim 10 , wherein actuating the drive mechanism includes extending at least a portion of the first or second sleeves out of the first member. 
     
     
       13. The method according to  claim 10 , wherein actuating the drive mechanism includes the drive mechanism having a surface configured to interface with and drive helically geared exterior surfaces of the first and second sleeves. 
     
     
       14. The method according to  claim 10 , wherein actuating the drive mechanism includes the first sleeve configured to surround the first post or rotating the second sleeve configured to surround the second post. 
     
     
       15. The method according to  claim 10 , wherein actuating the drive mechanism includes rotating the first sleeve rotatably coupled to the first member, which, in turn, non-rotatably translates the first post extending from the second member, thereby transitioning the lifting device to an expanded state in which the first and second members are spaced apart. 
     
     
       16. The method according to  claim 10 , wherein actuating the drive mechanism includes the drive mechanism including a worm drive having a pair of threaded sections, each threaded section configured to interface with only one of the first and second sleeves. 
     
     
       17. The method according to  claim 10 , wherein actuating the drive mechanism includes translating the first post having a threaded exterior surface engaging a threaded interior surface of the first sleeve. 
     
     
       18. The method according to  claim 10 , wherein positioning the lifting device includes the lifting device having the size-adjustable support movable relative to the first member between a first position, in which, the size-adjustable support engages the first member, and a second position, in which, the size-adjustable support is spaced apart from the first member. 
     
     
       19. The method according to  claim 10 , further comprising placing the lifting device between adjacent structures. 
     
     
       20. The method according to  claim 10 , further comprising placing the lifting device between two surfaces.